30 candidates in 4 Barguna upazilas boycott polls

At least 30 candidates in Sadar, Amtali, Bamna and Patharghata upazilas under the district, boycotted yesterday's upazila parishad polls, alleging massive vote rigging and occupation of the centres by the AL-backed candidates.
The candidates including those backed by BNP, 'rebels' of Awami League (AL), and independent ones, as well general voters alleged that election in many polling centres ended even before start of the polling time as the hired men of the AL-backed candidates filled the ballot boxes with sealed papers after occupying the centres.
Following different allegations, Md Abdullah, assistant returning officer (ARO) in Amtali, postponed polls in eight centres of the upazila.
Abdullah, also the upazila nirbahi officer, said the polls schedule for the eight centres would be declared later, after investigating the allegations.   
In separate press briefings, the boycotting candidates alleged that AL-backed candidates filled the ballot boxes after occupying the centres in collusion with the administration staff.
They also drove out the agents of their candidates from the polling centres in the early hours of the voting that started at 8:00am.
Around 10:00am, the main gate of Khekuani Government Primary School polling centre in Amtali upazila was found locked although the presiding officer and polling officers were inside the centre. No voter was seen around.
Gerabunia Government Primary School and Angulkata Government Primary School centres gave similar pictures.
In Sadar upazila, BNP-backed and independent candidates alleged that the supporters of ruling AL-backed candidates occupied at least 35 polling centres in the upazila.